Severance writer assures us that all the mysteries link up and make sense (Exclusive)

As a fan with an insatiable appetite for intricate narratives, I find myself thoroughly enthralled by the labyrinthine world of Severance. After binge-watching the first season last year, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the unraveling of mysteries surrounding Lumen, Mark, and the goats. The tantalizing hints dropped during interviews with showrunner Dan Erickson and writer Mohamad El Masri have only served to heighten my anticipation for the upcoming second season.

In the initial installment of the Apple TV+ series “Severance,” a captivating sci-fi drama that premiered in 2022, we find ourselves delving into the unknown. Fans have been eagerly anticipating the continuation of this tale, especially as it concerns Mark and other workers at Lumen who have ventured out of their usual world. The intrigue deepens: what is the true purpose of their “refining” in the depths of Lumen’s enigmatic corporation? And then there are the enigmatic goats – a puzzle that only adds to the mounting mysteries on “Severance.” Despite these numerous conundrums, it appears that showrunner Dan Erickson has a clear vision for the storyline, as confirmed by season 2 writer Mohamad El Masri.

El Masri explained during an interview about his short film Other Other that the individual in question is not the type who improvises as they go along. Instead, there’s a systematic approach to everything depicted in Severance, which he ponders day and night. He has a mental blueprint for it all and will share his insights with you, encouraging collaboration to unravel the intricacies. This is the kind of creator and writer he is.

And I said to him, ‘gosh, you know, this is almost like a video game. It’s like a map that you’re uncovering; this building, this town, this world…You’re just uncovering levels and characters and tools and doors and hallways and bosses.’ That’s how I sort of was able to make sense of it creatively. Let’s think of it that way. That’s not to say that we we didn’t hit walls in the room; believe me, we did. And you’re sort of banging your head against the wall trying to like, make sure like the Rubik’s cube sort of fits. So that’s all really round about beat around the bush way of answering your question. Dan’s the answer man. Trust in him, for sure.

It’s clear that El Masri didn’t reveal specific details about the second season of Severance, coming soon on Apple TV+. However, it’s reassuring to know that creator John Erickson has a well-thought-out strategy for the show, unlike some mystery series where the writers improvise as they progress and the puzzle turns out to be less intricate than initially perceived. I’m relieved to learn that Severance has a more elaborate plot.

Severance writer assures us that all the mysteries link up and make sense (Exclusive)

On a show like Severance, “everything has to connect”

As a captivated admirer, let me express that “Severance” revolves around a unique concept: a team of workers who willingly separate their consciousness, ensuring they can’t recall anything about their personal lives during work hours, and the opposite holds true when they’re off the clock. I believe that this thought-provoking idea couldn’t have emerged at a more opportune moment, as El Masri pointed out. “The pandemic was gradually easing,” he reminisced, “I feel like the world was opening up, and people were engaged in discussions about their work-life balance, office life, remote work. There was this ongoing dialogue, and there was a sense of unease about returning to the world. And so it surfaced just when these thoughts were swirling in people’s minds. It was pure serendipity—the perfect harmony between culture and art at the right moment. It was simply astounding.

El Masri joined the series as a writer during the filming of season 2’s finale, long before anyone could predict its success. Even then, he was provided with a detailed 50-page guide about the show, further suggesting that there may have been a carefully thought-out plan in place all along.

El Masri explained that despite having various resources at hand, it was necessary to carefully consider and explore the complexities of Lumen because it’s dynamic and multifaceted. Consequently, we initially spent several months reevaluating our understanding of Lumen, Mark’s unique role, and the intriguing circumstances surrounding Mrs. Casey. Essentially, we needed to step back, reassess, and determine the sequence of events to better comprehend the situation.

And Severance is unlike Other Other in the sense [that it is] hard science fiction. And it has a mythology and has a magic to it, but you do have to present the audience with the whys and the hows and the whos. You do have to do that on this type of show. Like the goats. What are the goats? Why are they there? What’s the man doing? Everything has to connect. What are they refining? What are these numbers that they’re sort of seeing? What’s that all connected to? What is this family? Now that we’ve revealed that Helly is a big part of this company, what does that mean for this family? What do they want? What are they doing? What’s the history? We had to sit and sort of wade through all that before you can just sit and write a season of television.

There’s only one thing left: finding out how everything ties together! The second season of Severance will premiere on January 17 (Friday), and El Masri shares our excitement. “I can hardly wait for everyone to see it,” he said. “I believe we’ve all been waiting so long that I feel like the world is on tenterhooks. It’s thrilling, and I’m excited for everyone involved, as well as the fans.

2024-10-07 16:41